What's New . . . NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Help Raise Awareness and #FightFlu This Season!

NOV 19, 2018 | CalDuals

Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Flu Day of Action on December 5, 2018. Share the message that getting an annual flu vaccination is important for beneficiaries and their families, care providers, and community members. Amplify your organization's commitment to combating the flu this season by tweeting, blogging, and sending newsletters to your stakeholders.

You and your organization can help spread the word about the Flu Day of Action on December 5, 2018 by sharing this announcement and blog with your networks!

Visit CalDuals.org to find draft language for tweets, posts, newsletters, and blogs available for both provider audiences and advocacy audiences in multiple languages.

Help promote flu vaccinations using the hashtags #FightFlu and #CalMediConnect!

If your organization would like to partner, please contact Lydia Orth with the CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office.

New SSA Phone Scam

OCT 31, 2018 | Justice in Aging

There's a new phone scam targeting Social Security beneficiaries that advocates for older adults should be aware of. The Federal Trade Commission is warning that scammers are engaging in a caller ID trick called "spoofing" to make it appear that they are calling from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

These phony callers claim to work for SSA and ask for personal information—such as the individual's Social Security Number—supposedly in order to process a benefit increase. These scam artists have also tried to get this information by claiming that the person's benefits will be cut off if the personal information isn't provided. Read the FTC's warning to learn more, including where to report such calls, and what people should do if they get one of these calls.

If you or your organization directly serve older adults, please make this information available widely in your community.

Protecting Immigrant Families - A Call to Action!

OCT 29, 2018 | Justice in Aging

Protecting Immigrant Families is focusing this week on how the federal proposed Public Charge rule affects seniors, people with disabilities! Along with partner Justice In Aging, this week's public advocacy is focused on trying to get as many people and organizations as possible to leave unique comments against the proposed Public Charge rule. The “public charge” rule change is in some cases literally a matter of life and death, interfering with the immigration status of people who use life-saving programs like #Medicaid.

In addition to the content in the Protecting Immigrant Health digital toolkit, here are suggested talking points for comments, public messaging and social media outreach:

The “public charge” regulation denies the contributions older adults and threatens their health and well-being of millions. We must reject it.

The Trump Administration’s “public charge” proposal would allow the government to discriminate against people with preexisting health conditions or disabilities and seniors.

New Final Rule from VA Impacts Needs-Based Programs

The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule that went into effect on October 18, 2018. These new regulations significantly affect the VA Pension, the Aid & Attendance benefit, and other needs-based benefit programs. Advocates serving veterans who might apply for needs based benefits should be aware of these new changes so they can properly advise their clients.

A Justice in Aging Fact Sheet provides statutory details. Advocates should be aware that the new rule impacts the following eligibility requirements:

Net Worth

Asset transfers

Deductible Medical Expenses

Income and Asset Exclusions

Medicaid-covered Nursing Home Care

HHS Names New Medicaid Director

OCT 19, 2018 | Justice in Aging

On Monday, the Trump Administration named Mary Mayhew as the new deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. Mayhew, who is filling the position Brian Neale vacated in January, was formerly the commissioner of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services. While in that role under Governor LePage, she opposed the ballot measure that passed to expand Medicaid.

New Public Charge Resources for Older Adults

OCT 17, 2018 | Justice in Aging

The Trump Administration’s proposed “public charge” rule would make it harder for families to stay together and for the older adults in our families and communities to receive the care they need because it would put immigration status at risk if an immigrant accesses or is likely to access programs that support health, nutrition, and economic stability.

The rule targets low-income immigrant seniors by greatly expanding the types of benefits that would lead to someone being classified as a “public charge.” Under the rule, seniors who ever used, sought help from, or were likely to seek help from such programs as Medicaid, the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be considered likely “public charges” and could be denied a visa or permanent residency. Confusion about the changes may lead to older adults forgoing needed services out of fear of potential immigration consequences.

The rule is published on the Federal Register and open for public comment until December 10, 2018. Justice in Aging has created a number of materials to help advocates fight back, counsel their older adult clients, and comment on the rule.

Millions of seniors pushed into poverty

It is no secret that Californians are living longer, but not necessarily better.

By 2030, the state’s senior population will increase by 4 million people, yet the state is woefully unprepared to care for this growing and financially unstable demographic. The lack of any strategy or organized master plan has pushed millions of seniors into poverty, unable to access high-quality, affordable healthcare, dental care, housing and supportive services.

Our lawmakers and next governor need to set aside partisan differences and collaborate on the creation of a state master plan for aging that recognizes three important pillars: the ability to age with independence; a healthcare system that responds to the individual not an institution; and affordable housing. MORE

California Association for Adult Day Services, a 501 (c) 6 non-profit grassroots-driven organization, advocates for the growth and development of adult day services in California and nationally. Centers in membership with CAADS provide innovative day programs that support individuals with physical or mental disabilities and older adults with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Learn more about CAADS

The Alliance for Leadership and Education (A.L.E.) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit arm of CAADS. Its mission is to advance innovation and quality in Adult Day Service through research and analysis, education and training, and leadership for the benefit of consumers and their caregivers.